Every Christmas Day we see pictures of the British royal family arriving at the church near Sandringham House in Norfolk. Imagine the surprise if one year a royal prince, dressed as the chauffeur, drove the car, jumped out to open the door for passengers, then drove away. ‘What made him do that?’ we might ask. ‘This isn’t what princes do! Is it a joke?’

There was nothing to joke about when Prince Jesus took on the role of a servant, ‘being made in human likeness’. But it was a surprise! Reflect on what Philippians says about what Jesus gave up in coming to this earth (vs 6–8). Jesus didn’t talk about being humble. He just was: the foot-washer, the sin-bearer! Paul intends to shake his readers into marvelling at Jesus’ humility. He is challenging us about how we serve others. 

Paul wants to do far more than that. The resurrection, ascension and exaltation are the completion of Jesus’ calling. He is greater than every other human person, including Caesar, who was called Lord. Jesus is ‘the Lord’, acknowledging he has always been God (v 11). All nations will ultimately recognise him.

Nativity retellings emphasise the earthly dimension of Jesus’ birth. Today, join with Paul in thinking about the parallel event of Jesus’ exaltation. Nativity retellings emphasise the earthly dimension of Jesus’ birth. Today, join with Paul in thinking about the parallel event of Jesus’ exaltation. 

Hark! the herald angels sing, / “Glory to the newborn King”’.¹ Spend time today worshipping your King, Jesus.

These verses are not often read at this time of year, yet they are perfect for Christmas Day. The passage is shaped like a deep, steep-sided valley. God’s Son descends into the valley. The one who is in ‘very nature’ God becomes in ‘very nature’ man, a servant (vs 6,7). The phrases used by Paul show that Jesus wasn’t pretending: the incarnation really happened. He was both fully God and fully man. If he had been born in a palace that would have been extraordinary enough; yet he goes even lower for he comes as a ‘servant’, born in a stable (more likely a cave)² in an outpost of the Roman Empire, wrapped tightly and laid in an animal’s feeding trough, unable to feed himself, clothe himself or defend himself from attack. How the angels must have wondered and worshipped. Today let us join them. 

There is even more, for Jesus descends further. He experiences death, a sinner’s death on a cross (v 8)! The bottom of this valley is dark and lonely. However, this is not the end of the story, for God the Father lifts the Son out of the valley onto the heights through his resurrection and exaltation. These verses, sometimes known as the ‘Carmen Christi’ or ‘Hymn to Christ’, call us to worship him. 

Even so, we easily miss Paul’s overriding purpose. He writes not primarily to inspire us to praise. First and foremost, he wants us to live like Christ; we are to serve others in humility, as he did (vs 5,7). There may be an immediate application on Christmas Day; sometimes Christmas with extended family can be chaotic and tense! If this is your situation, may you reflect something of Christ. As you do this, remember that in his time God will lift you up too. 

However you spend this most special day, know that Jesus descended into the valley for you. Bow before him, the incarnate Son of God. 

¹ Charles Wesley, 1707–88, ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ ² The early church fathers, Justin Martyr and Origen, both believed this